Do tampons absorb quicker than pads do?

[sayonarasista.livejournal.com]

At the risk of sounding terribly ignorant, I'll ask anyway.

I wore a tampon yesterday and today, but normally during my period I opt for pads. Since I've worn the pad since yesterday, it's sort of... stopped. Normally my periods last about 4-5 days, and today is my third day, but since yesterday it's been very light. I'm not sure if this is because the tampon gets all up in my business and gets all the good stuff quickly? Or... is my vagina just not that willing to give it all up?

Comments

[marlo-yearight.livejournal.com]

it might be that its the same, but you notice less, since the tampon gets it before it comes out. When i first started using tampons mine seemed much lighter too.

[missmofo.livejournal.com]

Agreeeed.

OP: I think it feels like less cause you're not constantly having blood leak out of you. I always hated that feeling, haha.

[sayonarasista.livejournal.com]

But I'm wearing a pad now, and I wore one last night as well, and I woke up and it wasn't as "full" as it has been before.

[missmofo.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Could just be a weird coincidence? Or the tampons could have "soaked" up all the stuff that would normally be lingering/leaking out of you?

[sadhe-sati.livejournal.com]

My periods didn't seem to last as long when I went from pad to tampons, either. I really don't have a definite answer, but I'm guessing it's the same amount of fluid, but because the tampon absorbs it quickly and internally, you don't deal with the flow for as long because it doesn't have to flow out of the vagina before it gets absorbed. I'm just speculating, though.

Maintainer Note

[free-me07.livejournal.com]

Hi sayonarasista,

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[otherrootbeer.livejournal.com]

Tampons don't stop your periods. When you take them out they may appear to have absorbed a little or a lot and you can't exactly tell how much like you can with a pad. So it's possible that more of your flow has been absorbed faster than you're used to.

[bomega.livejournal.com]

I noticed that too when I switched to tampons (before I eventually switched to the menstrual cup :D!) Yeah, I always thought it was a matter of travel time - the tampon collected the fluid at the source, and basically wiped up the excess on the way out. Where as with a pad, it would take a couple extra days for everything to trickle out.